UPDATE: March 2nd. I installed the Consumer Preview build and that worked just as the developer build, you still still need to set up scaling if you want to use Metro apps.
One of the interesting thing that Windows Division President Steven Sinofsky showed off at the Build conference was Windows 8 running on a four year old Netbook, he said Windows 8 was more efficient that Windows 7 and would run well on old hardware. So having a couple of old devices doing nothing I thought I would give it a try.
The first PCs I tried it on was my very old Samsung Q1, this was originally a XP device and I didn’t expect much from it. Unfortunately the Celeron processor runs at 800MHZ so bellow Microsoft’s recommendation and Windows 8 would not install, it pointed out that the processor was to slow and didn’t start the install.
So the next PC I tried was a old Acer Aspire One Netbook, this has a 1.4GHZ processor with 1GB of RAM and ran Windows XP. To get Windows 8 installed I installed Virtual Clone Drive which is a tool that enables you to mount ISO files as disks in XP, Vista or Windows 7. The Windows 8 install is an ISO so I mounted the image and then the install Windows dialog came up, I find this method of installing a lot easier than burning the image to a DVD and then finding a external DVD drive. I then ran the Windows setup and as with my other experience of installing Windows 8 it ran very smoothly. I chose to do a clean install as I didn’t want any of the stuff on the old machine.
Once Windows 8 was installing and running, I logged in using my Windows Live ID and it copied down settings from my other install, including wallpaper and some program shortcuts (including pinned web pages). The first problem I had was that the start screen looked a bit squashed and no Metro apps would load. Windows was running in 800×600 and it was using a Microsoft video driver that would not go any higher so I downloaded downloaded the Windows 7 Intel Mobile GMA 950 graphics drivers and that got it to run it its native 1024×600 which looked much better however Metro apps would not load. This turns out to be a display resolution limitation, Metro apps will not run in less than 1024×768 which the Acer can’t do but there is a hack.
The hack involves setting display scaling so you can set the display to be a non native resolution. To go this you need to load up REGEDIT which you can do by clicking on Start, then start typing REGEDIT, this will bring up the search screen and then click on the app.
Then find you display devices , I had four listed and it was the 2nd key. Click on the display (it will be something like {CA7B02A8-373B-4A4D-8E4E-4196CF23A532}
Then select 000
A whole list of keys will be displayed, find “Display1_DownScalingSupported” and set the value to 1 and then quit Regedit and reboot.
After a reboot you can then go in to display settings and change the resolution to 1024×768, its not a native resolution so it doesn’t look as smooth as the native setting but you will find that Metro apps will now load.
The performance of the Metro apps is a little sluggish but they work and some of the games work very, the traditional Windows programs work fine as well, Windows 8 seems uses less memory that Windows 7 so the whole install feels faster than Windows 7. I tested a couple of Windows programs including Skype and it worked fine. I should also say that other than the display driver I didn’t need to locate any other drivers and tools to get it working.
It’s a shame you have to switch to a scaled display setting as when it was running at 1024×600 it looked better but at least the Metro apps work, Windows 8 actually works better on this Netbook than Windows 7 did and better than the original Windows XP install with all the crap that came pre-installed in it.
The other thing to note is the new boot up time, with Windows 8 new style startup procedure it now starts in about 20 second! So overall I think I may be able to get a bit of use out of the Netbook, at least my kids will enjoy playing on the Metro games.
So if you have an old Netbook knocking around, head over to dev.windows.com and download the 32bit version and give it a try. The build is stable but is missing some Windows features like Windows Media Center but if your interested in looking at the future of Windows its a worth a look.
Coming soon, Windows running on a Acert Iconia Tab
I did pretty much the same thing, but I found it easier to use a thumbdrive to install off of. The simplest way to get a thumbdrive install of Win8 is to use the Win 7 tool to create the thumbdrive. It works fine for Win 8. (http://wudt.codeplex.com/)
I am posting this from an 8 gig acer aspire one. Works fine for me. I did remove the paging file though (over half a gig standard install) since I am on an SSD and they tend to drop the lifespan of SSDs. About to try the screen scaling since I wanted to test out the metro apps as well.
I cannot locate that file in the registry. I think its because the drivers wouldn’t install. I found the correct drivers and ran them in compatibility mode and regularly and i just couldn’t seem to get it installed. I am running an acer aspire one a150 and its running at 800 by 600 resolution without the drivers (because i cannot get them installed) I so far have not had any BSOD’s but i have got some freezes because of the issue. Is there anything you could recommend? When i find the registry there isn’t no second one like yours. And its not the same codes. I think thats because i don’t have the drivers. But i would like to be able to run metro style apps. Because otherwise all i have is internet and basic windows stuff. So please get back to me.
Can you please be more detailed about how you got Win 7 drivers (for the graphics) to work on Win 8? When I try to install… I am left with errors about the OS not being supported.
Does anyone know how to change the resolution without distorting everything. Like maybe tricking windows into believing it has a resolution of 1240 x 768 but actually still keeps the 1240 x 600.
Hi
I’m from Germany.
I have also an issue with audio where it says that the audio service is not running? all drivers are installed correctly, all connected task are running (dcom Loader etc.)
The service gives another error:
error 1297.
Also an issue with the touch pad. all drivers are installed correctly, but the touch pad doesn’t work.
On my VAIO X-Series netbook no tweaks were neccesary, I did however change some system dsettings to speed it up a little, it’s not much different than speeding up Windows 7. Check http://www.windows8netbook.com/windows-8-netbook-performance-tweaks/ for a step-by-step guide.
Hi guys! nice page
I’ve installed win8 on my aoa 110 with 8Gb of SSD and now I’d like to install some important softwares like ENVI or Matlab but with that little disk capacity It wouldn’t be possible so I put a 32Gb on the aoa110 and I thought to use it as place where softwares should be placed after!
But the problem is that when I install it, an error message appears saying : “Net enough disk space”.
It’s normal and I disabled Virtual memory on the C: drive and created new Virtual memory on a USB device (like 10Gb of the USB as a paging file) but the installation wouldn’t start. I think that Win 8 doesn’t accept that on the C: drive there isn’t any paging file!
So please give help!
I tried it on acer aspire zg5 yet after the restart nothing happens no available 1024×768 on my screen resolution. I’m thinking I need to install the latest drivers
Windows 8.1 worked with mentioned display adapter hack, but the better deal is Windows 10 Pro or Home (latest version 20H2 installed on Feb 10/21 on a SSD drive 120gb). May not be a rocket but is suffice as an extra for surfing, viewing Youtube and email. Supplied MS display adapter uses 1024 x 600 or 800 x 600 .
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I’m looking forward to trying out a proper beta copy on my Aspire 5745PG touchscreen laptop.
Hopefully we might get Media Center included by then.
I did pretty much the same thing, but I found it easier to use a thumbdrive to install off of. The simplest way to get a thumbdrive install of Win8 is to use the Win 7 tool to create the thumbdrive. It works fine for Win 8. (http://wudt.codeplex.com/)
How much space it uses ? I have the Acer One 8gb hard disk version.
I think you need 16gb to get Windows 8 installed
I am posting this from an 8 gig acer aspire one. Works fine for me. I did remove the paging file though (over half a gig standard install) since I am on an SSD and they tend to drop the lifespan of SSDs. About to try the screen scaling since I wanted to test out the metro apps as well.
I cannot locate that file in the registry. I think its because the drivers wouldn’t install. I found the correct drivers and ran them in compatibility mode and regularly and i just couldn’t seem to get it installed. I am running an acer aspire one a150 and its running at 800 by 600 resolution without the drivers (because i cannot get them installed) I so far have not had any BSOD’s but i have got some freezes because of the issue. Is there anything you could recommend? When i find the registry there isn’t no second one like yours. And its not the same codes. I think thats because i don’t have the drivers. But i would like to be able to run metro style apps. Because otherwise all i have is internet and basic windows stuff. So please get back to me.
you’ve gotta get the 945 chipset family drivers from the intel website for windows 7 and use those.. not the win xp ones on the acer website
thanks for the info about the screen, now a have work very fine with mi Aspire one.
Can you please be more detailed about how you got Win 7 drivers (for the graphics) to work on Win 8? When I try to install… I am left with errors about the OS not being supported.
Thanks
Windows update got them, I googled the video driver and downloaded the Windows 7 version. I haven’t got the unit to hand, I will have a look tonight
Does anyone know how to change the resolution without distorting everything. Like maybe tricking windows into believing it has a resolution of 1240 x 768 but actually still keeps the 1240 x 600.
you could try different settings but any resolution about the native will look a bit odd
this is rubbish it doesnt work at all
worked for me, but the registry settings can be a bit of a minefield
Hi
Is anybody having an issue with audio where it says that the audio service is not running?
I tried to start that service but it gives another error:
error 1297.
Hi
I’m from Germany.
I have also an issue with audio where it says that the audio service is not running? all drivers are installed correctly, all connected task are running (dcom Loader etc.)
The service gives another error:
error 1297.
Also an issue with the touch pad. all drivers are installed correctly, but the touch pad doesn’t work.
Has anyone an idea?
Greetings Arpad
It worked for me, thanks!
Thank you very much for the great information! Tried it!
On my VAIO X-Series netbook no tweaks were neccesary, I did however change some system dsettings to speed it up a little, it’s not much different than speeding up Windows 7. Check http://www.windows8netbook.com/windows-8-netbook-performance-tweaks/ for a step-by-step guide.
Your post gave me encouragement to try to install Windows 8 Preview on EEE Netbook with Windows XP. Wish me luck.
Hi guys! nice page
I’ve installed win8 on my aoa 110 with 8Gb of SSD and now I’d like to install some important softwares like ENVI or Matlab but with that little disk capacity It wouldn’t be possible so I put a 32Gb on the aoa110 and I thought to use it as place where softwares should be placed after!
But the problem is that when I install it, an error message appears saying : “Net enough disk space”.
It’s normal and I disabled Virtual memory on the C: drive and created new Virtual memory on a USB device (like 10Gb of the USB as a paging file) but the installation wouldn’t start. I think that Win 8 doesn’t accept that on the C: drive there isn’t any paging file!
So please give help!
Little correction! I put a 32Gb SDHC card for receiving any software installation as the OS occupied almost the 90% of the 8Gb SSD
the metro apps won’t run on Acer AO D270
i want to know …Windows App can be open in my Acer Notebook Model ADO-257 because I installed and apps didn’t woke..??
yes it will work but you have to set up screen scaling as mentioned in the post. It will not work without it
It will work but you have to switched to scaled display or it will not work.
Thank you for your tutorial!
I tried it on acer aspire zg5 yet after the restart nothing happens no available 1024×768 on my screen resolution. I’m thinking I need to install the latest drivers
sir my pc is open in 50 sec i am using window8 please help me to start my pc fastly
use an ssd and it may reduce boot time to 20 seconds or less, maybe even under 10 seconds.
I am also having a doubt will it work on my Acer Aspire 4736 model??? not 4736z or anything… onl
y 4736
My laptop is acre aspire a736z which has come with pre loaded vesta. can I upgrade to Windows 10
Windows 8.1 worked with mentioned display adapter hack, but the better deal is Windows 10 Pro or Home (latest version 20H2 installed on Feb 10/21 on a SSD drive 120gb). May not be a rocket but is suffice as an extra for surfing, viewing Youtube and email. Supplied MS display adapter uses 1024 x 600 or 800 x 600 .